Chapter 52 Levi The Menace
“Levi we can't fight them all, we are outnumbered!” Maya stated nervously, her eyes fixed on the advancing shadow wielders. “Do as I say, Maya. The both of you.” Levi’s voice was calm, too calm. “Let me help at least! I know how best to fight them–”
“I said, Get. Behind. Me.” Levi's tone was cold and sharp and held no room for more questions. Fernanda and Maya both shifted backwards, their eyes on him as they got behind him. All they could see was a bloodthirsty Lycan.
This was no longer the grumpy yet safe Levi they've spent the past few hours with, this Levi looks like he was about to cause a massacre without guilt. Nina smirked, ”Seriously Eira, you are backing away from a fight? That's so weak of you.“
“Eira?” Fernanda was surprised to see Maya get called that, ”Long story.“ Maya simply said.
Levi didn’t spare Nina a glance.
He moved.
The ground beneath his boots cracked as he launched forward, speed exploding from him like a released arrow. The first Shadow Wielder barely had time to raise his weapon before Levi’s fist connected with his chest.
The impact was sickening.
Ice erupted outward on contact, frost spider-webbing instantly across the man’s armor before shattering it. The body flew backward, hitting the ground already unconscious, that is if alive at all.
Levi didn’t stop.
He tore through them with ruthless efficiency, fists swinging with brutal precision. A punch to the throat. An elbow to the jaw. A knee that crushed ribs inward. Every strike was deliberate, devastating.
A Shadow Wielder tried to flank him, shadows stretching like tendrils toward Levi’s legs—
Levi slammed his foot down.
Ice surged from the point of impact, freezing the shadows solid mid-motion. He twisted, drawing a dagger in one fluid motion, and drove it upward beneath the man’s chin. He wrenched it free without hesitation and turned before the body even fell.
Another dagger flashed into his other hand.
Steel clashed.
He ducked beneath a blade formed entirely of darkness, rolled, and came up slashing. Frost coated the daggers, turning them into extensions of his power. Every cut burned cold, slowing reactions, numbing flesh.
But the Shadow Wielders adapted quickly.
Shadows thickened, hardening into shields that absorbed blows. They attacked in coordinated patterns now, one distracting, another striking from Levi’s blind spot.
Sloane lifted a hand.
The ground beneath Levi rippled as shadows burst upward, wrapping around his leg like a vice. Levi snarled, muscles flexing as he tore free, but the delay was enough.
A blade of darkness sliced across his shoulder.
Blood sprayed, steaming faintly against the cold.
Fernanda gasped.
Levi grunted but didn’t slow, slamming his elbow into a man’s face before ripping free and retaliating with a wave of ice that sent three Shadow Wielders skidding backward, frozen to the ground in twisted positions.
Nina laughed softly. “Still fast,” she said, stepping forward at last.
She vanished.
Levi barely had time to react before shadows swallowed her form and reappeared behind him, her knee slamming into his back. He staggered forward, breath knocked from his lungs.
Sloane struck next. “Get the catalyst!” she screamed her order, pointing towards Fernanda. Three shadow wielders began to advance towards them.
Maya's face hardened when she heard, ”I dare you!“ She muttered, stretching her hands forward and creating an illusion of snakes crawling up the bodies of the approaching shadow wielders. They began to scream and claw at their skins trying to get what wasn't on them, off.
Shadows speared toward Levi from multiple directions, forcing him into constant motion. He blocked, dodged, countered—but the pace was wearing on him. His breath grew heavier. Frost no longer spread as effortlessly from his skin.
Maya noticed.
She saw the tightness in his shoulders. The fraction-too-slow recovery between strikes.
Her hands trembled as she lifted them.
Illusion magic shimmered into existence.
Suddenly, Levi was no longer alone.
Dozens of him appeared, mirrored forms darting in different directions, each one radiating the same killing intent. Shadow Wielders faltered, confusion rippling through their ranks as they split their focus.
Levi took advantage immediately.
He drove forward, tearing through two distracted shadow wielders, daggers flashing.
Fernanda stood frozen behind Maya, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as she shook. Every blow felt like it landed in her own chest. Every near miss stole her breath.
Please don’t die.
Levi turned mid-strike, eyes blazing as he caught sight of Maya’s strained expression, magic flickering dangerously.
“Maya!” he roared, voice cutting through the chaos. “Don’t exhaust yourself again, we need you for the portal! Save your energy!”
“The vice commander is right Maya, you need to save your energy.” Fernanda told Maya, seeing the way she panted after casting the first illusion. “He needs my assistance your highness, they are going to kill him.” Maya exasperatedly replied, watching how crazy Nina and Sloane kept attacking Levi.
“I'm worried about him also but Levi's is tougher than that. Lycans and their egos remember? He's not going to allow himself get defeated by the shadow wielders.” Fernanda told Maya reassuringly, both of them glanced at Levi who was now busy fighting the few shadow wielders left.
He was visibly exhausted but he wouldn't stop until they were all dead. Then more portals began to opened and it was then Maya knew something had to be done. Damon was sending more of his shadow wielders and they were all burnt out to keep fighting.
“I have to create the portal now.” Maya stated firmly, beads of sweat pooling on her forehead. “Maya you–” Fernanda tries to speak but Maya shook her head. “The shadow wielders are relentless, Damon is relentless. He will not stop until he gets you back. So we have to go... Now!”
Maya didn't wait for Fernanda's response before she took a few steps backwards. She stretched her left arm forward, drawing her right arm backwards simultaneously. Her emerald pendant glowed green on her chest, but it was pulsing. A sign that Maya wasn't yet at her full strength.
The wind began to intensify as a dark green glow emitted out of thin air. The portal was already opening bit by bit. Levi took a quick glance at Maya opening the portal, with force. “Shit...” he muttered before landing one final blow against Nina which sent her flying backwards.
“Almost there...” Maya whispered as the portal got bigger. She was clearly in pain but she didn't stop. “I told you not to do anything.” Levi growled when he got closer. “We've got more company.” Fernanda told him, gesturing at the new portals.
Levi glanced around and realized she was right. “It's done, we can go now!” Maya yelled excitedly. Levi wanted to wait for them to go in first, ”No, the one who opens the portal has to be last to go in. I have to keep holding until everyone gets in.“ she told him.
For the first time ever, Maya saw clear worry in Levi's eye's. “We go in together.” he told her. Maya nodded.
It was almost a perfect plan untill Maya felt someone grab and pull her back by the arm just as she entered the portal at once with Levi and Fernanda. “Where the hell do you think you are going Eira?” Nina snarled, yanking Maya out of the portal in a flash.
“Maya! Nooo! Mayaaaa!!” Fernanda anguish filled screams faded away along with the portal.